125 to 181 GHz fundamental-wave VCO chips in SiGe technology

Abstract

This paper presents four signal-generation chips that comprise a fundamental-wave voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), an output buffer, and a divide-by-32 prescaler. The VCOs with contiguous tuning ranges cover almost the full waveguide band from 110 to 170 GHz (D-band). The fastest VCO operates at up to 181 GHz in combination with the prescaler. The VCOs run on 1.8 V, draw ∼35 mA, and achieve a single-sideband phase noise ranging from −92 to −82 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency. Power consumption of the high-speed frequency divider in the first prescaler stage is 70 mW. The circuits are based on an Infineon SiGe technology, which features HBTs with an fmax of 340 GHz.

Low phase‐noise high output power 176‐GHz voltage‐controlled oscillator in a 130‐nm BiCMOS technology

“…As already mentioned, at mm-wave frequencies it is difficult to achieve adequate power levels and usually two strategies are pursued in the literature. The typical one consists of the design of a high-output power oscillator without any following amplification stage [10,11]. This choice usually allows to obtain compact dimensions, lower power consumption and noise because of the higher output power coming from the oscillator, as stated in (1), from [12] L f m =…”

Advances in Silicon Based Millimeter-Wave Monolithic Integrated Circuits

“…Thus, the tuning range and the output power will increase without leveling the supply voltage. In [176], the earliest broadband SiGe-based VCO/divider combination at 180 GHz is presented. With a divide by 32 prescaler, the total tuning range of the four fundamental VCOs is 56 GHz, which ranges from 125 to 181 GHz.…”

A Low-Power Push-Push D-Band VCO with 11.6% FTR utilizing Back-gate Control in 22nm FDSOI

“…In order to preserve the good Q factor of the LC tank, small varactors are utilized at sub-THz frequencies in fundamental VCOs. These VCOs suffer from small tuning range even when they have both fine and coarse tuning mechanisms [5]- [7]. To achieve a continuous tuning, active multiplier chain or push-push principles for harmonic generation are utilized.…”